A new study published in the June issue of Landscape and Urban Planning intends to settle once and for all the debate about whether urban trees provide a deterrent or inducement for crime, writes Eric Jaffe.
Conflicting studies over the years have reached differing conclusions about the relationship between urban vegetation and crime. One school of thought believes urban greenery provides a natural hiding place for criminals, another argues that "trees actually decrease crime either by attracting more people to public
places (Jane Jacobs' 'eyes on the street' theory) or by signifying to
criminals that people care about their neighborhood (James Q. Wilson's 'broken windows' theory).
A recent study conducted by a team of environmental researchers, led by Austin Troy of the University of Vermont, on the relationship between crime and vegetation in Baltimore seeks to end the debate. According to Jaffe, researchers "report an inverse relationship between tree canopy and a variety of crimes in the Baltimore city and county regions."
And their nuanced findings help to explain the prior confusion. "While low dense brush seems to increase it [crime], tall broad canopies seem to
decrease it. That nuanced conclusion harmonizes with another study published earlier this year, in which U.S.D.A. Forest Service researcher Geoffrey Donovan (who has also linked urban tree coverage to home prices)
reports the same mixed tree-crime associations in Portland, Oregon."
FULL STORY: Can Trees Actually Deter Crime?

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie